[LAD] Something like Processing for audio

[Darren Landrum]

Paul Davis wrote:
> Processing has wrapped a language with a lot *less* power than
> SuperCollider in a front end that is much easier to learn. Its a shame.
> But it also seems to be way the world works.

So we would rather have a *more* powerful language wrapped in a front 
end that is very difficult to learn? We already have that in spades, and 
it's proven a good way to scare off people with good ideas who are not 
skilled in coding enough (or patient enough) to get the most basic tasks 
to work.

What we need is a nice and powerful back-end that is wrapped in an 
easy-to-learn front end. The best of both worlds, if it's possible.

My entire point is to design a C++ framework and resultant editor with 
only a very specific problem domain in mind: software effects, 
synthesis, and perhaps sampling as well. Then abstract everything that's 
needed into classes and functions that are well-documented.

I seem to recall you saying once, Paul, that nobody was writing the 
Native Instruments type of plug-ins for Linux audio. That statement is 
the very thing that got me down this path. It made me wonder what kind 
of code frameworks and libraries NI inevitably has created to use 
internally, and hoping we could make the same thing, open it all up, and 
then see some very powerful synthesizers and effects come out of it.

Everyone on this list seems to think these are all completely solved 
problems, and I disagree, with a great deal of passion. What happened to 
the days when we were all pumped up with enthusiasm, determined to take 
the world of professional audio by storm?

Of course, this also in part gets back to the "small, interoperating 
apps" vs. "large monolithic apps" argument, and I don't intend to go 
back down that road. We're already well down the first path, but even 
then, I still don't see why we can't create the kinds of programs that 
can match and even outclass what's available in the "desktop home 
studio" space on Windows and Mac.

Geez, the election year must be getting to me. I'm beginning to sound 
like a politician.

Oh well, these are my raw and naked thoughts and feelings, and I'll 
leave them exposed for all to see and comment and criticize. I really 
don't care if they get stomped on or not.

-- Darren Landrum